The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-03-19
A VERY QUIET MAN.
Lady Pardock's Opinion of Modest
Captain Armstrong. ..

Mrs. Cardewe stopped at our house one
day and said:
'Lucy, wish your husband could spare
you to come to the manor for few days"
81 dare say he could, ma'am," l replied.
''It's not far, and our little maid gets on
with the children very handy"
"Well, ask him." she said because Mr..
Cardewe and are expecting some friends,
and you might help me. You have not for
cotton your old business, l supposed" she
asked, smiling.
curtsied, and said: "No, | could man
age hair dressing and so on very well as
iady's mad-if wanted"
at is rather to look after Lady Pardock's
little boy" replied Mrs. Cardewe. 'He is
an only child-the heir to the property-and
l must have trustworthy person with him.
He has an attendant, of course, but the
nurse had been obliged to go homo, l under
stand. Will you come for a week or 500"
said l would, and Mrs Cardewe seemed
pleased.
II will write and tell Lady Paddock" she
said. 'She will not come unless her child
is in good hands, and can now assure her."
l curtsied again, and thanked her for her
good opinion. She nodded pleasantly and
drove away, saying:
"On Tuesday, then"
When Charley came back to tea he gave
me leave to go, and laughed about my leav-
ing my own children to look after the only
child of Lady Padrock who was the widow
of the great barrister, the gentleman who
had found the heir to the Norfolk estate.
''When are you going to the manor?" he
asked.
"On Tuesday, Charley-this is Friday-so
there's plenty of time.
The company began to arrive at the manor
on the Monday. There were to be fourteen
guests, but l needn't name them all. Mr.
HemphIll and the Martyn- Henrys were in
vited at separate times-but he remained
longer than he had at first intended-and
there was Captain in the navy, a retired
officer named Armstrong, who wore beard
like the Duke of Edinburgh. He was a
nice, plain-spoken gentleman-very quiet
and never seemed to put himself out for any
one He had been asked to meet Mr. Hemp
hill who had yacht and was somewhat
nautical.
Lady Paddock came, with a nursemaid-
a plain, rather silly-looking, affectionate
giri-and the heir. He was seven years
old; sturdy, bold boy; independent, but
as obedient as | have never seen lad so
young. His mothers word was enough;
he did as he was hidden without question
ing or fretfulness The young heir seemed
to like the sailor captain, who was full of
anecdotes and stories, but Lady Paddock
seemed to despise him little. She was a
fine, handsome woman; tall, well made and
well dressed. There was at times dreamy
look III her eyes, as if she were thinking of
the past or contemplating the future She
was very energetic, though, and could
walk, ride row. or sail boat as well as
many men.
She and Captain Henry were good friends
She was interested in his mining and was
quite as ready to go down the mine as she
was to sail in Mr.. Hemphilrs yacht, the
FREELY
"You are, of course, a great traveller
Captain Armstrong;" she said one day to
the sailor. eve heard good deal, you
know, through the butler and other men
servants, and I saw a good deal OF Lady
Paddock, and sometimes she talked to me.)
S'No," he replied, carelessly. II have
soeen about the world-nvt much in it.
sailor sees a good deal, and there is somc-
thing worth seeing occasionally, too"
"Have you ever been in battle!" she
asked again.
''Never, am thankful to say" he re-
piled.
''You are surely-not-not seriousl" she
said.
~ am quite serious-I dread battlel OF
course, should fight if had to do so-but
L trust never shall"
II wonder you entered the navy, Captain
Armstrong" she half sneered. "You
should have been Quaker"
sit was not my own choice, Lady Par
dock" he answered
''He would make an excellent country
parson," she remarked to her neighbor,
Captain artyn-Henry; and very soon
afterward the ladies left the dining-room
From that time Lady Paddock seemed to
think the sailor what Charley calls "a
muff." He walked and sometimes shot
with the party in the stubbles-or helped
an tableaus, but never shone much in any
way. When Charley came in l used to tell
min about the Captain.
"You know nothing about it," he would
say. captain Armstrong shoots right
straight; if he don't fire often he always
kills in workman-like way and doesn't
mangle the birds. What do you know
about him3"
"Not much. indeed but he doesn't seem
ITO care much for any thing, and is very
quiet"
80 you think he's a 'muffr o, you
women Because a man doesn't boast and
swell about like turkey-cock, you think
he's got no spirit in him"
well, Charley, no one could possibly
think he had any spirit. He's as mild as
mlkl"